Calosoma obsoletum

Say, 1823

old beautiful black searcher

Calosoma obsoletum is a large ground beetle in the Carabidae, described by Thomas Say in 1823. It belongs to the 'caterpillar hunter' Calosoma, known for arboreal hunting . The occurs across the Great Plains and western North America, where both and larvae prey on lepidopteran caterpillars.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Calosoma obsoletum: /ˌkæloʊˈsoʊmə ˌɒbsəˈliːtəm/

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Habitat

Open prairies, rangelands, and cultivated fields. The is associated with open, exposed soil typical of Great Plains .

Distribution

North American Great Plains and western regions. Documented from Canadian provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan. US states: Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Diet

Both and larvae are predatory, feeding on lepidopterous caterpillars. Specifically documented to prey on Hemileuca oliviae caterpillars.

Host Associations

Hemileuca oliviae - preyLepidopteran caterpillar

Ecological Role

of caterpillars, including agricultural pest . May contribute to natural of lepidopteran in prairie and agricultural .

Similar Taxa

Calosoma scrutatorSimilar large size and arboreal caterpillar-hunting ; distinguished by more intense purple pronotal coloration and larger size (25mm+ vs. smaller C. obsoletum)
Calosoma wilcoxiSimilar arboreal hunting and general appearance; C. wilcoxi is notably smaller (about one-third the size of C. scrutator) with different temporal occurrence patterns
Calosoma sayiAnother large black Calosoma with prominent sculptured ; lacks metallic coloration of some

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Calosoma obsoletum is part of the nominate Carabinae, which includes the 'caterpillar hunters' and 'snail hunters'—among the largest members of the ground beetle .